What would happen if....

[Daisy004]

just supposing I decided not to take my cpap machine with me to disney for a week...what do you think would happen?? would I get really tired and feel yukky? Has anyone ever dared to come off it for a week? come and fess up if you have and how did you feel. ( having said this Im only tossing the idea about, I probably will end up taking the dang thing with me anyhow). thanks D.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

I usually use a dental appliance and a cpap machine ( it's the only method that has worked for me in getting my ahi below 5 and even then, not on a regular basis). I went one night last week with just the dental appliance to see how it worked on its own - it was really extremely unpleasant - I woke up every hour and felt really awful. I felt like I had gotten no sleep. I think we adjust to the cpap and if you stop abruptly, it is far worse than it was before using cpap. This is just my opinion of course, based on one night.

[cosmo]

You'll be on your feet for 12 hours a day....

[ChrisD]

I took mine to Disney for a week. No problems at all.

I think if you stop using yours you will be tired, have headaches, and be grouchy. Not really a happy combination for the Disney experience.

Chris

[ems]

I didn't take mine when I went on vacation during the summer. FWIW, I didn't feel any different. If you don't have other serious medical conditions, I don't think it's a big deal. Lots of people disagree with me tho, so do what you feel is right for you.

[BlackSpinner]

just supposing I decided not to take my cpap machine with me to disney for a week...what do you think would happen?? would I get really tired and feel yukky? Has anyone ever dared to come off it for a week? come and fess up if you have and how did you feel. ( having said this Im only tossing the idea about, I probably will end up taking the dang thing with me anyhow). thanks D.

Try it out before you go. Very carefully for a week on cpap journal exactly how you feel. Now take off two nights and do the same. On the third day do a Disney day - walk all day long and see what you feel like, don't use your cpap and check ow you feel. then start using your cpap again.

Personally I wouldn't do it. The time I dozed off sitting up in bed in ER hooked up I dropped to less then 79 in a few minutes.

Edited to add: What about those people sharing your room? Will they have to listen to you snoring and gasping? Will that keep them awake as opposed to th whit noise of the cpap machine?

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

Daisy,

There must be some reason that you may or may not be aware of for your questioning whether to take the PAP machine or not. Perhaps it would be a good time to evaluate the pros and cons of your therapy and how those might relate to how you are feeling in regards to 'PAPing at the Magic Kingdom' . Is there some fear or annoyance as to how it will go if you take it? Is there some sort of curiosity as to how your body will respond if you don't? Does traveling with the machine/equipment cause embarrassment or anxiety if someone other than your family sees you with it? These are the types of things I would be asking myself if I were in your shoes. Good luck to you!

No matter what you decide I hope your vacation is wonderful and filled with special memories!

John

[jweeks]

just supposing I decided not to take my cpap machine with me to disney for a week...

Daisy,

Why would you not bring your machine? I travel all the time with my machine, and it really isn't that big of a hassle once you get used to it. I have a 2nd machine for travel. That lets me keep my main machine set up without having to tear stuff apart to travel, and I have my travel machine packed and ready to go. I just toss it into my carry-on, along with a hose, mask, spare nasal pillow, tape, scissors, Vasoline, extension cord, and chin-strap.

The only real hassle is the distilled water. I have a few old 12-oz plastic Diet Coke bottles that I have washed out. They seal really tight, so they are ideal for carrying water. 12-oz will do two days for me, perhaps even longer in Florida where it is humid. I then put each bottle of distilled water into a zip-lock bag as a 2nd layer of protection to keep my clothes from getting wet. You cannot put that amount of water into your carry-on, so it has to be checked. Usually, 2 bottles is good enough since I generally just need to get through the first night, and then I'll find a Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens where I can pick up a gallon jug.

The only other small hassle is getting a CPAP through the TSA checkpoint at the airport. They want you to take the machine out and put it into its own tray for scanning. If you forget and leave it packed, they will then want to wipe it down for explosives. While most people say you want to carry on your machine so you keep control of it, I have gotten in the habbit of putting it in my checked luggage. It eliminates the check-point issue. My travel machine is older, so while it would be inconvenient to have it stolen, it wouldn't be a disaster.

I really, really need to have my machine since I am very non-functional without it. I really have no issues traveling with it, rather, it is mostly just a matter of getting used to having to worry about yet one more thing.

-john-

[kteague]

Sure would be rough if mid way you realized you needed your machine. I can only suggest that you be very knowledgeable about YOUR condition - the facts. In your study did you have prolonged events with large desats? A person like that might be more concerned than someone who just had a few nights of less than solid sleep. Hope you do whatever makes your experience its best.

[Janknitz]

You make it sound as if you need to carry the machine around with you at the park. It just stays at the hotel room and you put it on at night. No big deal. Why make it one?

[Denial Dave]

you will sleep later in the AM to make up for the lost good sleep

by sleeping later, you will be stuck having to pick from small remains at the breakfast buffett, then wait in huge lines for rides because you weren't the early bird.

at night, you will go to bed earlier, because you are sooo tired

by going to bed earlier, you'll miss out on the fireworks, parties,dancing etc..

no big deal

[Sheriff Buford]

just supposing I decided not to take my cpap machine with me to disney for a week...

Daisy,

Why would you not bring your machine? I travel all the time with my machine, and it really isn't that big of a hassle once you get used to it. I have a 2nd machine for travel. That lets me keep my main machine set up without having to tear stuff apart to travel, and I have my travel machine packed and ready to go. I just toss it into my carry-on, along with a hose, mask, spare nasal pillow, tape, scissors, Vasoline, extension cord, and chin-strap.

The only real hassle is the distilled water. I have a few old 12-oz plastic Diet Coke bottles that I have washed out. They seal really tight, so they are ideal for carrying water. 12-oz will do two days for me, perhaps even longer in Florida where it is humid. I then put each bottle of distilled water into a zip-lock bag as a 2nd layer of protection to keep my clothes from getting wet. You cannot put that amount of water into your carry-on, so it has to be checked. Usually, 2 bottles is good enough since I generally just need to get through the first night, and then I'll find a Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens where I can pick up a gallon jug.

The only other small hassle is getting a CPAP through the TSA checkpoint at the airport. They want you to take the machine out and put it into its own tray for scanning. If you forget and leave it packed, they will then want to wipe it down for explosives. While most people say you want to carry on your machine so you keep control of it, I have gotten in the habbit of putting it in my checked luggage. It eliminates the check-point issue. My travel machine is older, so while it would be inconvenient to have it stolen, it wouldn't be a disaster.

I really, really need to have my machine since I am very non-functional without it. I really have no issues traveling with it, rather, it is mostly just a matter of getting used to having to worry about yet one more thing.

-john-

J: if you check your cpap machine and bag, aren't you concerned about the baggage handlers slinging it around and damaging the unit? Sheriff

[Daisy004]

another one of my silly ideas to even consider not taking it...it just seemed a hassle to shlep it along with the other stuff but I guess Im going to need as much energy as I can muster for Disney with 2 kids. I have warned the kids, the 10 yr old can bring one back pack that hes carrying himself and the 4 yr old can bring his little roll on, at least if Mummy is left with the roll on I can pull it along and still have my backpack and my cpap machine. Im going to be like a pack mule..lol I have decided not to take the 4 yr olds car seat with me and just rent one at the car rental place when I get there. At least that cuts down on something I dont have to carry. Mickey and the CPAP it is!!!
thanks for your comments..hugs.

[LSAT]

I don't know how much you use your humidifier, but, Florida is humid...maybe you could do without it.

[JeffL]

It would depend on how bad your OSA is.
You might feel bad.
You might disturb others with your snoring.
There's not reason not to take it. As a medical device, it doesn't even count as baggage.